Parent Handbook
Dear Parents:
It is my great pleasure to welcome the families of the Class of 2013 to Allegheny College. I look forward to meeting you in late August at Orientation and Matriculation. And to the families of our current students, I hope you have had a good summer and look forward to seeing you during Family Weekend in October.
Our Parent Handbook is designed to be a resource for families in regard to educational programs, college policies, and functions of various administrative offices. It is my hope that you use this guide to encourage your son or daughter to seek out appropriate resources.
It is an exciting time to be a member of the Allegheny College community. This past year the college was engaged in a large scale examination of health and wellness called The Year of Health. The scope of the study encouraged exploration of health related issues across the disciplines. Areas of focus included, environmental, global, personal and community health and the relationship between them in regard to wellness. Within this same academic spirit, 2009-2010 has been declared The Year of Social Change. Students, faculty, staff and alumni will again engage in a wide variety of programs and curriculum focusing on social change within a local and global context. This initiative will both enhance and stretch your son or daughters understanding of themselves and the world around them.
Allegheny continues to offer numerous opportunities for students to explore areas such as career and leadership development, social engagement, the arts and co-curricular options. A recent study of Allegheny student success suggests that those students who are engaged and active participants in the community are those that achieve their academic and personal goals. Additionally, our understanding of student behavior clearly indicates that student consumption of alcohol can cause problematic results in terms of success in the classroom and among peers. Therefore, I urge families to discuss the appropriate use of alcohol and for you to clarify expectations as it relates to consumption. We have provided a "Wellness section" on page 14 of this handbook. I, again, encourage your family to review this prior to arrival on campus so that you can discuss expectations and chart a course towards success.
I trust that over the years you will witness important developmental changes in your son or daughter. I suspect that you will see a significant enhancement of his or her ability to imagine, to think critically, to be more culturally aware, and to exercise his or her independence. I am proud to be in an environment where students are seen as individuals and encouraged to develop into successful and active citizens of the world.
Sincerely,
Joseph DiChristina
Dean of Students
